Orange & Black Breakdown

As the Flyers head into Tampa Bay tonight, all of the focus seems to be squarely on the back end, and for good reason. Not only does it look like Chris Pronger will make his return tonight, but reports out of Philadelphia indicate that Braydon Coburn is now a much richer man.

Let’s talk dollars and sense after the jump.

Timmy P of CSN Philly is reporting that Coburn’s new deal is a four-year, $18 million contract extension that will begin next season, making him the team’s third highest paid defenseman (!!) at $4.5 million per season. Four Flyers will be making over $4M on the blue line next year, and this doesn’t include the raise Carle will inevitably receive.

While I would love to think he has played to his potential and achieved this contract, can anyone really say that with certainty – especially with the way he has played as of late?

If anything, it seemed like the Flyers may have been in line for a discount given his recent platoon of progression. He hasn’t been able to apply that mean streak to his game we’re all now well aware of and it has shown. His speed and size will always give him a rare mix of tools in the chest he can rely on to succeed, but I just don’t think he has applied them to his game consistently enough to warrant such a raise.

Would I love for him to prove me wrong? Abso-freaking-lutely; but he has definitely taken a step BACKWARDS this season, and I can’t quite see how that justifies such a hefty raise. Why rush into signing him if no real discount is available? He has the ability to make this deal a successful one, but if he doesn’t step it up soon this contract could make him stand out for the wrong reasons in Philadelphia.

What to expect from the LIGHTNING: Winners of 6 out of their last 8, expect heavy doses of Steven Stamkos and Matt Gilroy. Stamkos quietly has 10 goals already this season, which is a true testament to the amount of skill this guy possesses – people are expecting more.

Gilroy stepped of the ice from their most recent contest with his most playing time all season, and it was obvious why. The man is playing with tons of confidence out there and really has a good feel for the puck right now. If the Flyers want success against him they will have to be really physical on their forecheck.

What to expect from the FLYERS: Chris Pronger. If he comes back, how does his presence affect the stability of the defense? The offense is clicking pretty well right now; it’s up to the defense to get it together.

About Orange & Black Breakdown

The Orange & Black Breakdown looks to be the ultimate, around the clock source for news and information on the Philadelphia Flyers organization and it’s ever-present quest for the Stanley Cup. Focusing on what the team can do to achieve success is the ultimate goal.

The OBB is written and maintained by myself - Marc Siciliano. I’m a college graduate and media production professional in the sports industry with credits on projects like Hard Knocks: Bengals and 24/7 Penguins vs. Capitals: Road to the Winter Classic. A man of many hobbies, I always seem to find a way to spend a disproportionate amount of my daily routine with two things: Flyers hockey and social media (much to the dismay of my hockey impartial friends on twitter).

So what does this mean for you? The plan is to combine these time-wasting habits passions with my love for writing to provide you with complete coverage of the Flyers from both my head and around the web, 24/7.

This is my second writing stint focusing on the Flyers, but for a much larger audience - so do be gentle. Different perspectives and opinions on the organization are welcome and encouraged. Just because I see it one way doesn’t mean I’m beyond seeing it your way as well, so speak up!